Mouthguard

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a mouthguard that includes a mouthpiece portion which is made to fit inside the user&#39;s mouth and provides a protective connection with the user&#39;s teeth. A relatively short member is integrally formed with the front of the mouthpiece. This member provides clear visibility to the referee or official that the user is wearing a protective mouthguard, even with the user&#39;s mouth closed. This member also includes an opening at the front end for attachment with a helmet, face mask, headgear, or the like. The user can selectively attach the present invention as needed. The present invention provides better safety and hygiene.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to protective mouthguards for use inathletic events to help protect the teeth, jaw, and head of the athlete.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The main functions of mouthguards are for protecting the teeth and fordecreasing the occurrences of concussions and other injuries from hitsduring athletic events. Mouthguards are placed inside the user's mouthduring athletic events thus reducing injuries to the user's teeth andmouth. Mouthguards also reduce the risk of concussions and otherinjuries to the jaw and head.

Mouthguards are required for most athletics events by the variousgoverning athletic bodies. There are rules and regulations surroundingthe use of mouthguards as well. Some of these rules and regulationsinclude: The mouthguard must cover all upper teeth; The mouthguard mustbe a highly noticeable color; The mouthguard must be clearly visible tothe referee or official.

Overall, mouthguards in the prior art can be put into two generalgroups: untethered and tethered. A tether, or strap, is a piece ofmaterial that is attached to the mouthguard and connects to the helmetor face mask, typically. Untethered mouthguards in the prior art do nothave this tether, or strap, therefore the entire mouthguard is insidethe user's mouth. Untethered mouthguards in the prior art are notclearly visible once inside the user's mouth. This flaw is inherent tountethered mouthguards in the prior art due to the nature of untetheredmouthguards not having a anything protruding from the user's mouth. Thislack of a clearly visible mouthguard often causes the referee orofficial to stop the athletic event to verify if the user is wearing amouthguard or not. Untethered mouthguards in the prior art also lack thefunctionality to be attached to the user's person or equipment when notin the user's mouth. That is why many users choose tethered mouthguards.The main purpose of tethered mouthguards is so the user will not losethe mouthguard once the user removes it from his or her mouth.

Both tethered and untethered mouthguards in the prior art have numerousshortcomings. For tethered mouthguards, the strap, which is usuallywrapped around the user's face mask, is an obstruction to the user'sview. This causes a blind spot in the user's field of vision andprevents the user from seeing something and could suffer a seriousinjury. Also, if the helmet is removed from the user as a result of ahit or the like, this results in the mouthguard being viciously pulledfrom the user's mouth, increasing the risk of severe harm.

As for untethered mouthguards in the prior art, as mentioned above, theyare not clearly visible once inside the user's mouth, which often causesthe referee or official to stop the athletic event to verify if the useris wearing a mouthguard or not. Untethered mouthguards in the prior artalso lack the functionality to be attached to the user's person orequipment. As a result, some users have resorted to attaching theiruntethered mouthguards to their helmets by wedging the mouthguardbetween the helmet and the face mask. This method is highly susceptibleto germs, not only germs getting on the mouthguard when the user touchesit with their hands, but germs also get on the mouthguard when it comesin contact with the helmet and face mask.

Consequently, there is a need for a protective mouthguard for use inathletic events, and in particular, a mouthguard which is clearlyvisible to the referee, but does not obstruction to the user's view.Also, there is a need for a protective mouthguard that does not causeserious injury if the helmet is removed from the user as a result of ahit or the like. Lastly there is a need for a protective mouthguard thatis hygienic, and able to be attached, as needed, to the user's helmet,face mask, headgear, or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a mouthguard that includes a mouthpiece portionwhich is made to fit inside the user's mouth and provides a protectiveconnection with the user's teeth. A relatively short member isintegrally formed with the front of the mouthpiece. This member providesclear visibility to the referee or official that the user is wearing aprotective mouthguard, even with the user's mouth closed. This memberalso includes an opening at the front end for attachment with a helmet,face mask, headgear, or the like. The user can selectively attach thepresent invention as needed. This member does not obstruct the view ofthe user, due to its relative short length. Thus avoiding the variousdrawbacks of the prior art.

The present invention protects the teeth and decreases the occurrencesof concussions and other injuries from hits during athletic events.Furthermore the present invention has a short member that is integrallyformed with the front of the mouthpiece. This provides clear visibilityto the referee or official that the user is wearing a protectivemouthguard, which mouthguards in the prior art lack and often causes thereferee or official to stop the athletic event to verify if the user iswearing a mouthguard or not.

Additionally, the present invention has incorporated into it aconnecting clip extending from the front of the mouthguard whichprovides the user a convenient way to fashion the mouthguard to theuser's helmet while the mouthgaurd is not in the user's mouth. As aresult, the user circumvents the germs that accompany other untetheredmouthguards in the prior art. The user circumvents germs putting in ortaking out the mouthguard because the user no longer has to touch thepart of the mouthguard that goes into the user's mouth. The connectingclip extending from the front of the mouthguard can be grasped by theuser's fingers and be used to put in or take out the mouthguard. Theuser also circumvents germs that are on the user's helmet or face maskbecause the user's mouthguard no longer comes in contact with the helmetand face mask due to the connecting clip extending from the front of themouthguard. The user also avoids the dangers with tethered mouthguardssuch as; the risk of injury to the teeth when the helmet comes offduring a hit in an athletic event; and the reduced visibility whileusing tethered mouthguards.

The present invention provides much greater flexibility of use andconnection to the helmet, and which is also easy to attach and detachfrom the helmet, face mask, headgear, or the like.

The connecting clip can be constructed of various materials depending onthe sturdiness required. It can be made of material similar to thematerial used in boil-and-bite mouthguards, and the user can increase ordecrease the diameter or shape of the connecting clip, by boiling it inwater and carefully adjusting it. In the similar fashion to thetechnique used to fit the mouthpiece portion to each individual user'steeth.

It has also been discovered that the connecting clip can be used todisplay team logos, team colors, player initials, player numbers,nicknames, mottos, or the like.

It has been further discovered that select mouthguards in the prior arthave a hole, in the front of the mouthpiece, adapted to fit anattachment for a tethered strap. Accordingly, another aspect of thepresent invention is to be compatible with this hole, in the front ofselect mouthguards in the prior art. Once inserted into this hole theuser can attach the mouthguard, as needed, to the user's helmet, facemask, headgear, or the like, using the connecting clip. Refer to FIG. 6.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparentwith reference to the drawings and the description of the preferredembodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention maybe more clearly seen when viewed in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention with clearlyvisible member, which can be used as a connecting clip, as needed, tothe user's helmet, face mask, headgear, or the like;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the present invention showing theconnecting clip which does not obstruction to the user's view;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the mouthguard that is hygienicbecause the user no longer has to touch the part of the mouthguard thatgoes into the user's mouth;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the clearly visible memberaccording to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view according to the principles of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the connecting clip of the presentinvention, to be used with select prior art's opening hole, in the frontof the mouthpiece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It should be noted that specific embodiments of the present inventionwill now be defined with mention to the drawings, it should be notedthat such embodiments are by means of illustration only and simplyexplanatory. Variations and alterations apparent to one skilled in theart to which the present invention relates are considered to be withinthe spirit and scope of the present invention as further defined.

Referring now to the drawings, and, more particularly, to FIG. 1, afront perspective view of the mouthguard of the present invention. Thepresent invention has a channel for the upper teeth to fit. The upperteeth are surrounded by the inside of the outer wall 55 and the insideof the inner wall 60. Both the inside of the outer wall 55 and theinside of the inner wall 60 are connected to the floor 10. These threesurround the upper teeth to protect the user from injury to the teeth,jaw, head, or the like. At the front end of the outside of the outerwall 15 there is a member 35 that is integrally formed with the front ofthe mouthpiece 80. This member 35 continues and curves downward 75 toform the outside of the connecting clip 40. The other side of theconnecting clip is made up of a piece 45 which comes downward frommember 35 at intersection 85. This member provides clear visibility thatthe user is wearing a protective mouthguard, even with the user's mouthclosed. The opening of the connecting clip 50 is where the user canselectively attach the present invention as needed to a helmet, facemask, headgear, or the like. This member 35 and the outside of theconnecting clip 40 can be used to display team logos, team colors,player initials, player numbers, nicknames, mottos, or the like.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the mouthguard of the presentinvention. This view shows the channel for the upper teeth to fit, whichare surrounded by the inside of the outer wall 55 and the inside of theinner wall 60, and are both connected to the floor 10. Member 35 isintegrally formed with the front end of the mouthpiece and curvesdownward 75 to form the outside of the connecting clip 40. The otherside of the connecting clip is made up of a piece 45 which comesdownward from member 35 at intersection 85, forming the opening of theconnecting clip 50.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the present invention. At the frontend of the outside of the outer wall 15 there is a member 35 that isintegrally formed with the front of the mouthpiece 80. Member 35 curvesdownward 75 to form the outside of the connecting clip 40. The otherside of the connecting clip is made up of a piece 45 which comesdownward from member 35 at intersection 85, forming the opening of theconnecting clip 50. The user can attach this connecting clip, as needed,by attaching the hole 90 to the user's helmet, face mask, or the like.The connecting clip, made up of pieces 35, 40, 45, 50, 75, 85 and 90 canbe grasped by the user's fingers to circumvent germs putting in ortaking out the mouthguard because the user no longer has to touch thepart of the mouthguard that goes into the user's mouth.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the present invention. The member40 provides clear visibility that the user is wearing a protectivemouthguard, even with the user's mouth closed. Member curves downward 75to form the outside of the connecting clip 40, forming the opening ofthe connecting clip 50.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the present invention, The channelfor the upper teeth to fit, which are surrounded by the inside of theouter wall 55 and the inside of the inner wall 60, and are bothconnected to the floor 10. The outer wall has optional cutouts 30 and 25to make a more comfortable fit inside the user's mouth.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of only the connecting clip of thepresent invention, to be used with prior art's opening hole, in thefront of the mouthpiece. Member 35 curves downward 75 to form theoutside of the connecting clip 40, the other side of the connecting clipis made up of a piece 45 which comes downward from member 35 atintersection 85, forming the opening of the connecting clip 50. The rearend of the connecting clip can be inserted to the opening hole of theselect mouthguards in the prior art, which have a hole adapted to fit anattachment for a tethered strap. Pieces 65 and 70 fit into the openinghole of the prior art, and once inserted, piece 70 prevents theconnecting clip from accidentally coming out.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mouthguard that includes: a. a mouthpieceportion which is made to fit inside the user's mouth and provides aprotective connection with the user's teeth; b. a channel for the upperteeth to fit, said channel surrounds the upper teeth with an outer walland an inner wall, and both walls are connected to the floor of themouthguard; c. a relatively short member is integrally formed with thefront of the mouthpiece, which provides clear visibility to the refereethat the user is wearing a protective mouthguard, even with the user'smouth closed; d. said member sticks out of the user's mouth wherein theuser can grab it, circumventing germs because the user no longer has totouch the part of the mouthguard that goes into the user's mouth; and e.said member also includes an opening at the front end for attachmentwith a helmet, face mask, headgear, or the like, the user canselectively attach the present invention as needed.
 2. The mouthguard inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said floor is to absorb the top andbottom teeth of the user.
 3. The mouthguard in accordance with claim 1wherein said connecting clip can be used to display team logos, teamcolors, player initials, player numbers, nicknames, mottos, or the like.4. The mouthguard in accordance with claim 1 wherein said connectingclip: a. can be constructed of various materials depending on thesturdiness required; and b. can be made to increase or decrease thediameter or shape of the connecting clip, by boiling it in water andcarefully adjusting it, in the similar fashion to the technique used tofit the mouthpiece portion to each individual user's teeth.
 5. Themouthguard in accordance with claim 1 wherein said connecting clip canbe compatible with the hole, in the front of the mouthpiece, of selectmouthguards in the prior art, which have a hole adapted to fit anattachment for a tethered strap. Accordingly said connecting clip can beinserted into said hole for use in attachment to a helmet, face mask,headgear, or the like.